Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) review

The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) currently has an Informr score of 7.6 out of 10.
This score is based on our evaluation of 6
sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

What's good

Vibrant, bright display

microSD support

Good battery life

NFC support

Quality design

What's bad

Price vs performance

Slow camera

Average performance

Low internal storage

Redundant apps pre-loaded

Blending mid-tier performance with the look of a flagship phone, Samsung’s A-series is known for its attention to details and stylish designs. This year’s releases are finally out and on paper the 2016 A3 looks nice. But do the figures translate to a good experience?

Let’s check what reviewers are saying!

One phrase repeated over and over was “it looks like a Galaxy S6 Mini.” If you were a fan of the flat glass and metal design of the S6, you’ll be thrilled with the A3. PC Advisor UK declared, “Galaxy A-series now has a premium design worthy of Samsung’s flagship family at a mid-range price.” Some reviews noted that the flat back led to slipping and some questioned the long-term durability of all that shiny glass, but overall, reviewers were fans.

Flipping around to the front, you’ll find a 4.7-inch 720p Super AMOLED screen. In typical Samsung fashion, the screen wowed reviewers. PC Advisor UK said, “Viewing angles are decent, the display is plenty bright.” Phone Arena noted, “I’ve seen much more detailed screens on phones of this tier, but even on the new Galaxy A3, I’ve almost never found image detail to be insufficient or text to be difficult to read.”

Keeping all those pixels moving smoothly, you’ll find a 1.5Ghz quad-core Exynos processor and 1.5GB of RAM. Performance reviews were mostly positive--though some noted problems with heavy multitasking or complex graphics. Android Pit summed things up well, saying, “Neither gamers nor the generally impatient are going to be thrilled with the Galaxy A3.”

You’ll find 16GB of internal storage to load up your favorite apps, games or movies. With the pre-installed apps, that dwindles down to just over 9GB. Fortunately, the phone includes support for microSD cards of up to 128GB.

Though the phone is new, its a little behind on Android releases--running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. If you’re not a fan of earlier TouchWiz versions, reviewers were quick to point out that Samsung seems to be dialing back their features and changes to provide a truer Android experience.

While the phone’s 2300mAh battery might look weak on paper, reviewers found battery life to be good. Phone Arena noted, “the new Galaxy A3 will last through a day of moderate use.” Android Pit fared even better, saying, “You can get about two days of use out of it and it seems well equipped to deal well with heavy use. Integrated energy-saving features also afford you great control over which apps are disabled in standby mode.”

If you’re hoping to snap pictures while out and about, you’ll find a 13MP rear camera with flash and a 5MP front-facing lens for selfies and video chat. Reviews on the cameras were mixed. PC Advisor UK said, “At this price the photo quality is acceptable, with realistic colours and reasonably sharp detail.” Many reviews noted a considerable delay when focusing--particularly in low light.Overall, reviews of the phone were positive. The biggest area of contention was pricing. Many phones with similar if not better specs are available in this price tier, though maybe not with the polish of the A3.

Android Pit summed up the phone, saying, “The performance is not outstanding, but it is adequate for the price. Its shortcomings are, however, offset to a degree by its strong battery life.” Expert Reviews was more positive, declaring, “If you're not really bothered by which version of Android you have and you've been desperately waiting for Samsung's next, true 'mini' phone, then you really can't get much better than the Galaxy A3 2016.”

What the Critics Are Saying...

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) remains a standout through design, battery, audio and display, so it’s a media phone first and foremost. It’s also a good looking, compact and youthful model. Everything works fine here, maybe except for the camera, that’s just average.

- Alexandru Stănescu, GSM Dome

With the Galaxy A3, Samsung has given us a diminutive smartphone with flagship looks and build quality, a super screen, a capable camera and battery life that goes on and on. What it hasn't given us is the performance to match.

- Alan Martin, Alphr

I suppose we all have that friend who wouldn’t care what hardware or operating system goes into a phone. As long as it looks pretty, they’ll get it. That’s the kind of people who will be drawn by the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016), as its gorgeous design and eye-catching display are its...

- Nick T., PhoneArena

It's expensive, but the tiny Galaxy A3 2016 beats every other mid-range smartphone when it comes to looks and battery life.

- Katharine Byrne, Expert Reviews

Wants to stand out from its mid-range rivals with a special design and high-quality build.

If your Galaxy A3 (2016) has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.

Critic Reviews

Small multimedia powerhouse and quite the looker

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) remains a standout through design, battery, audio and display, so it’s a media phone first and foremost. It’s also a good looking, compact and youthful model. Everything works fine here, maybe except for the camera, that’s just average.

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) remains a standout through design, battery, audio and display, so it’s a media phone first and foremost. It’s also a good looking, compact and youthful model. Everything works fine here, maybe except for the camera, that’s just average.

Jaw-dropping looks and a stunning screen

With the Galaxy A3, Samsung has given us a diminutive smartphone with flagship looks and build quality, a super screen, a capable camera and battery life that goes on and on. What it hasn't given us is the performance to match.

With the Galaxy A3, Samsung has given us a diminutive smartphone with flagship looks and build quality, a super screen, a capable camera and battery life that goes on and on. What it hasn't given us is the performance to match.

Beautifully designed for its class

I suppose we all have that friend who wouldn’t care what hardware or operating system goes into a phone. As long as it looks pretty, they’ll get it. That’s the kind of people who will be drawn by the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016), as its gorgeous design and eye-catching display are i...More

I suppose we all have that friend who wouldn’t care what hardware or operating system goes into a phone. As long as it looks pretty, they’ll get it. That’s the kind of people who will be drawn by the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016), as its gorgeous design and eye-catching display are its most alluring features. Indeed, Samsung has managed to build a device that looks and feels a lot like one of its flagships, despite being of a much lower class.

The S6 Mini in disguise

If you're not really bothered by which version of Android you have and you've been desperately waiting for Samsung's next, true 'mini' phone, then you really can't get much better than the Galaxy A3 2016. It may be a little expensive right now, but that's sure to change with time, especially when...More

If you're not really bothered by which version of Android you have and you've been desperately waiting for Samsung's next, true 'mini' phone, then you really can't get much better than the Galaxy A3 2016. It may be a little expensive right now, but that's sure to change with time, especially when Samsung products are renowned for falling in price not long after launch. While the OnePlus X is probably the phone you should be buying at this kind of price, the Galaxy A3 2016 is the one you'll want to have in your pocket.

Cheap smartphone that’s going to take great pictures

The new Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) is not as big a disappointment as the old A3 (2015) but it’s not as impressive as the Galaxy S5 Mini was, either. The performance is not outstanding, but it is adequate for the price. Its shortcomings are, however, offset to a degree by its strong battery li...More

The new Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) is not as big a disappointment as the old A3 (2015) but it’s not as impressive as the Galaxy S5 Mini was, either. The performance is not outstanding, but it is adequate for the price. Its shortcomings are, however, offset to a degree by its strong battery life. The storage space on offer is probably not enough for many users, but Samsung has been so kind as to include a microSD card slot, so this isn’t of such great concern.

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